Saturday, November 8, 2008

Pneumococcal Vaccination?

This vaccination is apparently not a compulsory vaccination in Malaysia. I read a little about it and when Ryan's paed recommended that he takes it, we did not have any second thought. When he mentioned it briefly to us, I don't think we quite understand the magnitude of the disease. Our thoughts were, if it is good and recommended by the paed, just get it done. Ryan just had his second dose of pneumococcal vaccination last week. Since the subject was brought up in my previous Rotavirus vaccination, I did a little bit more research and came up with the following facts which I hope would help parents who are considering this vaccination.

Pneumococcal (pronounced as New-m'COCKL) disease is a severe bacterial infection caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, also called pneumococcus. It may cause pneumonia, meningitis or a blood stream infection (bacteremia). This disease mostly strike children under age 5 and can lead to some of the worst childhood diseases. Kids under 2 years old are most at risk. These bugs live in the mucous lining of the nose and in the back of the throat, and when plentiful enough can cause an infection in the respiratory tract, middle ear, or sinus cavities.

Pneumonia - inflammatory illness of the lung
Meningitis - inflammation of the protective membranes covering the brain and spinal cord. Potentially life threatening.
Bacteremia - blood infection with bacteria.

Pneumococcal bacteria are spread by close contact and through coughing and sneezing. Diseases such as meningitis and pneumonia can crop up within days of infection. Symptoms of pneumococcal pneumonia usually include fever and chills with shaking or trembling, as well as chest pain, coughing, shortness of breath, rapid breathing, rapid heart rate, fatigue, and weakness. Nausea, vomiting, and headaches are also associated with pneumococcal pneumonia, but are less common.

It suffice to say that if our child is put in a day care centre and that he/she mixes freely with other children, he/she would be at a higher risk exposure and hence, making pneumococcal vaccination a MUST as soon as possible.

The routine schedule for pneumococcal conjugate vaccine is 4 doses, one dose at each of these ages:
􀀳 2 months
􀀳 4 months
􀀳 6 months
􀀳 12-15 months

Children who weren’t vaccinated at these ages can still get the vaccine. The number of doses needed depends on the child's age.
More information from this links:

Honestly, after reading the facts, I am glad that Ryan is vaccinated. If your child is not, it could be a good time to give this vaccination a serious thought.

16 comments:

Rose world said...

yeah, it is not compulsory, but my daughter's paed also recommend for the vaccination. and it is not cheap too! I am glad that she almost finish her vaccination schedule, not left 1 more. Suppose to take last week, but she wasnt well, so we delay it to next week. Doc usually recommend to take vaccination 1 week later if child is not feeling well

sting said...

you know, I had been struggling for the longest time whether to get my son vaccinated with this. Reason being studies had shown that this vaccine may be a cause for autism... It was scary to read those.. sigh..

but at the end of the day, concern gave way to fear... fear of him being that sick... so we let him get jabbed...

Mommy to Chumsy said...

ashley's paed also mentioned abt this jab to us but didn't insist that we take it. she told us that it does not mean that by taking the jab, the kid would be covered against all the bacteria infection. so, it's really up to the parents :) i delayed it till Ashley is 3 because it is so expensive. She needed only 1 jab and we finally brought her to the paed last month :D

2xMum said...

Agree with mummy to chumsy. It's ok to delay if we're not sending to child care center and not bring baby out of the house frequently.

Well, I initially planned to let Ryan take the jab when he's two... less jabs and spend less $ :P But then, decided to let him have the jab when he's one as we're planning to bring him for holiday soon.

Unknown said...

my two sons were never given this vaccination,dont know much about it,

my salute to a wonderful dad,btw, bro,what do you for living? for me i am trading, selling printer catridges and toners,

good week ahead

Daddy said...

Thanks for the comments. Looks like most of us parents seemed to have the same thoughts, better safe than sorry. hehe. It is true that the vaccination will cover only certain bacteria infection but then I guess I feel so much more at ease knowing that Ryan has been vaccinated agaisnt some...

Hazel said...

one of my friend doesn't bring her daughter to receive any vaccination, i think she is wrong.anything will happen or not if child x receive vaccination?

Daddy said...

Hi Hazel. What was the reason that she didn't bring her child for vaccination? You mean ANY of the vaccination? Is she not concern with the risk that she is putting her child through? Altough vaccination does not always guarantee 100% but it will definitely help to reduce the risk of the child contacting some of the diseases these vaccination is supposed to protect. This is especially so, if the child is sent to a day care center or goes out to public areas a lot.

Mummy_Hana said...

my daughter got her first jab last week at 15-months-old..
another jab two month later, will be on april..

at first we never tought much about it since the vaccine is not compulsory..

but then, unfortunately she was admitted and need water drip due to rotavirus (which we never thought to take before). it really hard for me to see the poor baby of mine in the hospital..

therefore, i made up my mind and proceed with the Prevenar jab..

trust me..if you are sending your chind to day care, she/he is better vaccinated. prevention is better than cure..

Daddy said...

Hi Mummy Hana. Thanks for visiting. So sorry to hear about your baby getting the rotavirus. Hope that everything is fine now. And yes...prevention is definitely better than cure...Keep in touch.

Anonymous said...

hi everyone, those comments of yours convince me to bring my 14-months son for the jab. He had coughs and flue almost every month. BTW he's sent to nursery, yeah... And was admitted to hospital once for these symptoms. thanks

Anonymous said...

One of my sons classmates has recently passed away due to pneumococcal pneumonia. He is vacinated but now has flu and cough... I now to do a blood test to test him for the bacteria as the vaccine only provides 70% prevention...

Daddy said...

Hi anonymous...So very sorry to hear that...Yeah..I guessed vaccines are not 100% protection or prevention either...at best they do minimize the chances of infection .....I hope that you child is OK....

Anonymous said...

i just want to ask....my baby now 3 month,on formula milk...now the problems is i always hear my baby sneezing after given milk...is that 1 of symptom pneumocaccal....im worried with my baby....i take him to clinic, the nurse said its from the formula milk...im also think want to give my baby pneumococcal vaccine...

Anonymous said...

Hi I read so many people talking about pneumococcal. There is a website www.abc4pneumococcal.com that writes a lot of the disease.
Hope this helps.

Kevin Tan said...

Thanks for the great insight on the vaccination. I will get my daughter vaccinated.

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